2012/06 Western USA trip - Chiricahua |
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We left Tombstone in the wrong direction and I had to make a nifty U-turn to avoid one of Homeland Security’s inspection stations. I expected to hear sirens any minute but we were free and clear and off across the desert to the Chiricahua Mountains. Within these mountains is a little-known national monument that protects the strange rock formations. These are the result of an ancient volcanic ash deposit and they have eroded to columns and precariously balanced 
rocks, similar in some ways to Bryce Canyon, but these rocks are all grey.
The roads are narrow and there are some restrictions on vehicle length but we found a perfect spot in the campground albeit with some more graunching of the trailer’s jack post. We drove up to the high country, much cooler than the last few days and little visited. We walked a
couple of the easier trails, and looked out towards the Dragoon Mountains, also known as Cochise’s Stronghold. Cochise survived the Apache wars and some double-crosses long enough to die of cancer.
There were fewer cacti in the mountains, but the century plants (agaves) were at their best, covered with these flowers.
Back at the campground, returning at dusk, we met this acrobatic mule deer. Our dinner was closely watched by a
gaggle of blue Mexican jays.
Tuesday June 19th
We made one last stop inside Chiracahua, to visit the Faraway Ranch, built by a Swedish family and subsequently a dude ranch, even after the monument was created. It was an interesting place, a relic of another time.
This was to be a driving day, crossing western New Mexico, and we were going to take the “short cut”, a dirt road over Apache Pass, and 
take a look at Fort Bowie, built in the 1860s to protect the all-important water source at the pass. We walked to an overlook of the fort’s ruins, but no one wanted to take the hike to the site. It was another very hot day. This last picture is of the trail to the fort; it gives some idea of the landscape of the Apache wars. Geronimo fought here.
We were now crossing into New Mexico, with nine days left to finish our loop back north into Colorado for the wedding, and this is a convenient spot to end part three of the journal.